ENB Vol. 1 No. 16 UNCED-PC IV
Mar 22, 1992 by lgoree in
ESB NO. 16 FROM PREPCOM IV
THE EARTH SUMMIT BULLETIN
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 16
PUBLISHED BY ISLAND PRESS
PREPARED BY:
LANGSTON JAMES GOREE VI "KIMO" - kimo@ax.apc.org
PAMELA CHASEK - pchasek@igc.apc.org
JOHANNAH BERNSTEIN - cpcu@web.apc.org
22 March 1992
PREPCOM HIGHLIGHTS
THURSDAY EVENING, 19 MARCH 1992
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (PLENARY): The Plenary met in a closed
informal-informal session Thursday night to continue its discussion
of technology transfer. The Vice-Chair, Bjornar Utheim, presented
the delegates with a reordered compilation document that was
prepared according to the outline proposed by the US the night
before. After spending time on procedural matters, the group
tackled the document's title. There was still disagreement over
the US's proposal: "Cooperation for the transfer, adaptation and
diffusion of environmentally sound technology." India proposed a
compromise, using the language that had been agreed upon by the
climate change negotiators, however, the rest of the G-77 rejected
this as being inconsistent with the wording in Resolution 44/228.
The group decided to leave the title in brackets and move on to
"Basis for Action." Although the discussion did not proceed much
further, some participants are optimistic that they will reach
consensus on this document with a minimum of problems as both sides
seem willing to compromise.
INSTITUTIONS/LEGAL INSTRUMENTS (WORKING GROUP III): Working
Group III met on Thursday night to discuss both institutions and
legal instruments. The first half of the session was devoted to
statements on institutions, where countries addressed possible fora
for policy making; implementation of Agenda 21 and coordination of
governments and agencies in the implementation process. Iran, Egypt
and China spoke in favor of the G-77 report calling for the UN
General Assembly to remain the sole forum for policy making; ECOSOC
to be the appropriate forum to oversee inter-agency coordination;
as well as the strengthening of existing agencies, especially UNEP.
A number of countries, including the Netherlands, stressed that
follow-up is critical and UN institutions should aim at integrating
environment and development. Canada stressed the important role
that governments and NGOs will play in the implementation of Agenda
21.
The second half of the meeting was devoted to an informal
session on legal instruments. Two new documents were examined:
CRP.2/Rev.1, a draft summary of discussions to date, and L.30, a
draft decision prepared by the G-77 and China. Substantive
discussion on the convergence of the two documents did not begin
due to a procedural deadlock. Pakistan, on behalf of the G-77,
wanted initial discussions to focus on the introduction to L.30.
The US and the EC called for initial discussions to focus on the
basis for action as set out in CRP.2/Rev.1. They argued that this
document represents the summary of all discussions to date. The
delegates were unable to resolve this procedural debacle.
PREPCOM HIGHLIGHTS
FRIDAY, 20 MARCH 1992
POVERTY, HEALTH AND EDUCATION (PLENARY): The Plenary met
Friday morning to continue its discussion of the poverty cluster.
Frank Young, the US coordinator for the contact group on health
(PC/100/Add.5), reported that consultations had been held, comments
received, and that they were ready to submit a report, without
brackets. The EC thanked the US delegate for his work and the
Vice-Chair said that other contact groups should emulate their
example. The US circulated copies of the document for additional
comments and suggested that it would be ready for translation later
that day.
Sweden accepted responsibility for coordination of a contact
group for the education document (PC/100/Add.6). A contact group on
poverty (PC/100/Add.2) was also created with Australia as
coordinator. The meeting ended early and the evening session was
cancelled so that the various contact groups might meet.
INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING (PLENARY): The Plenary
began discussion of PC/100/Add.12, "Information for decision
making," Friday afternoon. This chapter of Agenda 21, which
addresses the key issues of collecting and using information for
sustainable development and monitoring the implementation of Agenda
21, is being discussed for the first time in the preparatory
process.
Although PrepCom Chair Tommy Koh had hoped that this document
could be discussed and agreed upon in one afternoon, this was not
the case. After having completed only 9 paragraphs by 6:00 pm, Koh
announced that the group would continue its discussion at 8:00 pm
in the time-slot vacated by the working group on poverty, health
and education.
One of the major issues was access to information and the role
of government. China objected to the reference in paragraph 2 that
everyone is a decision maker for sustainable development, implying
that decisions can only be taken by government.
In Programme Area A, "Bridging the data gap", Ethiopia argued
that some information is classified according to importance and
sensitivity. The issue of national sovereignty over information was
mentioned by China and Brazil. The US insisted on bracketing
paragraphs dealing with finance (13 and 14). This brought a sharp
rebuke from China, asking what the point of these discussions was
if there was no commitment to finance the points agreed upon. By
10:00 pm the group had only reached paragraph 20 and agreed to
reconvene in the morning.
FORESTS (WORKING GROUP I): Working Group I met on Friday
morning to resume work on Forest Principles, CRP.14/Rev.2. The
amendments submitted during Tuesday morning's session emerged as a
54-page compilation document. What was expected to be a relatively
noncontroversial negotiating session turned into a difficult one
involving procedural wrangling. Vice-Chair Charles Liburd suggested
that the deliberations focus on the consolidation, restructuring
and negotiation of the text.
Work began on the preamble and progressed slowly as
problematic areas appeared over use of the word "range" or "gamut",
as well as in references to deferring the decision for a
subsequent, post-UNCED deliberation on an international, legally
binding instrument on forests. It seemed to many delegates that
several developing country negotiators were rather rigid in their
positions and that the mood of the negotiations was polarizing
along North-South lines.
Negotiations resumed Friday night on the Agenda 21 chapter for
Forests, PC/100/Add.16. A new consolidated text was distributed.
This document had been prepared by the Chair and the Secretariat,
based on the negotiations held Tuesday and including many of the
amendments submitted at that session.
Chair Bo Kjelle'n was determined to move through the entire
document during one session, regardless of the time allotted or
availability of interpreters. Negotiations moved quickly, as the
Chair passed over sections on "means of implementation" and "basis
for action", leaving discussion only on "objectives" and
"activities". The interpreters left at 10:10 pm. Kjelle'n pleaded
with the delegates to focus on the ideas and leave the minor
editing points to the Secretariat. No major problem areas emerged
and the group was able to complete its second reading of
PC/100/Add.16. by 11:20 pm. The Secretariat and the Chair will now
work to resolve minor problems in the text before Working Group I
looks at this document for the final time later this week.
FRESHWATER (WORKING GROUP II): The contact group working on
the freshwater resources chapter of Agenda 21 (PC/100/Add.22)
reached consensus on most issues on Friday night. The group was
unable to agree on shared water resources and established a
sub-contact group to handle this issue. Working Group II is
expected to review the contact group's work later this week.
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS (WORKING GROUP III): Working Group III met
on Friday to decide on a course of action for negotiations on legal
instruments. The G-77, insisted that its draft decision, L.30, be
used as the basis for negotiations. After a brief procedural
debate, Chair Bedrich Moldan ruled, based on a suggestion by
Pakistan, that amendments to L.30 could be tabled until Saturday at
1:00 pm. Thereafter, the Secretariat would compile these amendments
into a text to be referred to as CRP.2/Rev 2. This text is expected
to be ready for delegates today or tomorrow.
EARTH CHARTER (WORKING GROUP III): On Friday Working Group III
also addressed the course of procedure for negotiations on the
Earth Charter. The Chair, Bedrich Moldan, announced that he would
enforce the Friday 6:00 pm deadline for amendments. Numerous
delegations expressed their concern with the tight deadline but
supported the Chair in his ruling. The amendments to L.20/Rev.1
will be compiled by the Secretariat into a non-paper. This
compilation text will henceforth serve as the basis for
negotiations. This decision was considered by many to break through
the procedural deadlock that has mired Earth Charter discussions to
date. It was particularly important from the perspective of OECD
countries since negotiations will no longer revolve exclusively
around the G-77 text.
PREPCOM HIGHLIGHTS
SATURDAY, 21 MARCH 1992
INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING (PLENARY): The Plenary
completed discussion of PC/100/Add.12 on Saturday morning. The
group slowly worked its way through the remaining 11 paragraphs in
Programme Area B, "Improving Access to Information". The underlying
factor that pervaded many of the interventions was concern about
national sovereignty. The Russian Federation wanted to ensure that
the document did not focus solely on improving developing
countries' access to information, but all countries' access.
The group finished its discussions at 12:30 pm, after nearly
8 hours of discussion. The only brackets in the document are on the
paragraphs that deal with finance (paragraphs 13, 14 and 28). The
Plenary has not begun work on PC/100/Add.8, "Integration of
environment and development in decision-making". The negotiating
session on this document is being rescheduled.
FORESTS (WORKING GROUP I): Working Group I met all day
Saturday to continue negotiations on the Forest Principles. After
a halting start, due to procedural problems over interpretation,
the pace of negotiations remained slow. Only modest progress was
made and now, after three negotiating sessions, only the preamble
and two of the seventeen principles have been partially discussed.
Observers have noted that several developing country negotiators
seem to be hardening their positions in these discussions in an
attempt to gain leverage in the negotiations on transfer of
technology and financial resources.
EARTH CHARTER (WORKING GROUP III): Working Group III met in a
closed informal-informal session on Saturday to commence
negotiations on the Secretariat's non-paper, a compilation of
proposed amendments to L.20/Rev.1. At the suggestion of the G-77,
discussion revolved around those elements of the compilation text
that may be ripe for consensus. There was also discussion on the
preambular reference to the state of poverty in which many people
in developing countries live. While there was general agreement
that poverty had to be addressed in the Earth Charter, there were
differences as to how it should be dealt with in the text. Many
delegations identified the key elements that they wanted to be
addressed in the preamble. It was decided that the G-77 would meet
at 2:00 pm to draft text. The full group reconvened at 3:00 pm to
carry on the discussions on the preamble and the poverty section.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY AT PREPCOM
ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS (PLENARY): The Plenary will convene this
afternoon to discuss PC/100/Add.13, "Strengthening the role of
major groups." Several governments are preparing substantive
inputs, including the addition of children to the youth section,
and a new section on the elderly. The Vice-Chair, Ambassador
Mazairac, has indicated that he does not want a procedural debate.
This session is scheduled to begin as a formal one to allow
interventions by representatives of the major groups.
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY (PLENARY): Discussion will continue on
the revised compilation document on technology transfer this
evening. At its meeting Thursday night, the group left off
discussing the basis for action. It is likely that discussion will
pick up here this evening as the group continues its
paragraph-by-paragraph review of the document.
ATMOSPHERE (WORKING GROUP I): Working Group I will move to its
last outstanding agenda item, PC/100/Add.14, Atmosphere. This
document has been re-written after last PrepCom criticized it for
over-emphasis on energy concerns. Numerous countries, including the
G-77, have prepared their own text as an alternative to Add.14. The
primary area of contention is the perceived extent to which Add.14,
and especially the energy section, are duplicative of the work of
the parallel climate change negotiations. Expect the usual
procedural quagmire over text selection to dominate the first
session.
BIODIVERSITY (WORKING GROUP I): A contact group on
biodiversity has met to look at the Swedish and EC texts as well as
the original document, PC/100/Add.20. Although no consensus was
reached there was broad agreement and the Chair, with the help of
the Secretariat, will probably produce a convergence document.
OCEANS (WORKING GROUP II): Working Group II will reconvene
this morning to discuss oceans. The contact group on marine
pollution (Programme Area B) completed its work last Thursday and
the institutional contact group (Programme Area F) reached
consensus on Friday. This morning, the group is expected to review
the results of these two contact groups and complete its
consideration of sustainable development of small islands
(Programme Area G). The contact group on marine living resources
(Programme Areas C and D) continues to meet behind closed doors.
EARTH CHARTER (WORKING GROUP III): Working Group III Chair
Bedrich Moldan will be meeting with interested parties today at
10:00 am on the Earth Charter. The next closed session on the Earth
Charter will be convened this afternoon. It is expected that
negotiations will continue around less controversial elements of
the compilation text.
The Earth Summit Bulletin is published by Island Press and
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Pamela Chasek and Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" with specific
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